Art of producing and treating hydrocarbon vapors during the distillation of the same.



I. H. ROBERTSON. ART OF PRODUCING AND TREATING HYDROCARBON VAPORS DURING THE DISTILLATION OF THE SAME APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. I9I6. 1,238,339,

2 SHEEIIS-SHEET I.

[III] Wfiws ses. he

"T1 4M6- Z of o Pafented Aug. 28, 1917.

I. H. ROBERTSON. A ROCARBON VAPOHS DURING THE DISTILLATION OF THE SAME.

ART OF PRODUCING AND TREATING HYD APPLICATION FILED APR.25. l9l6.

1,238,339. Patented Aug. 28,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HART ROBERTSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERTSON MOTOR FUEL PROCESS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ART OF PRODUCING-AND TREATING HYDROCARBON VAPORS DURING THE DISTILLA- TION OF THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

Application filed April 25, 1916. Serial No. 93,475.

object, a more perfect decomposition of the combinationsof the elements which form the various vapors that result from the distillation of such oils, when heat and pressure alone were used and I efi'ect this result by causing electricity to pass through the confined volumes of such gases, thereby obtaining results which have been found impossible in the practice of well known methods or processes.

For a full understanding of my invention, such as will enable others skilled in they pass through the apparatus and there theart to practice the same, reference is had to the accompanying drawings which disclose the apparatus used by me and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating part of the apparatus in sectional View and other parts thereof in side elevational view and Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a modified form designed to operate upon oils for treatment where greater heat is required.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through the line 33 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the electrodes used in this form of the apparatus.

In practising the method or process embodied in my invention, the vapors are subjected to the action of an electrical current which may be either continuous or alternating and of high enough potential to produce disruptive eflects on the vapors as they pass under the influence of the current conveying electrodes inserted in the paths through which the vapors pass between the point of distillation and the condenser. These electrodes are preferably of suchconveying area as to give the best possible effects of the current upon the whole volume of vapors as -ter; 31,

may be as many of the same as thought best, the number thereof being optional.

Referring now to the drawings in details and first to Fig. l; b, is a blower driven by any source of power; 2, a tubular coil connected with the blower at one end and at the other to the main retort. 3, is a furnace, and 4, is the jacket of the main retort 6; 4, jacket of a secondretort, 6; 5, a partition in the center of the jacket of the main retort 5; 6, the main retort; 6, secondary retort; 7, screw cap on main retort; 7 screw cap on secondary retort, 6; 8, is a pressure gage and 9 an insulating plug in the top of the main retort; 9 being a similar insulating screw plug in the top of the retort 6. 10, a connection for the positive wire; 10 being a multiple connection for said wire and'both being connected directly to the dynamo. 11, is a graphite anode, electrically secured to connection 10; 11, is a similar anode, electrically secured to connection 10. 12, feed vessel, 12 regulating valve for hot air outlet; 14, valve above feed vessel and thirteen valve below the same; 15, air pipe connecting jacket of main retort 6 with jacket 4' of retort 6; 16, pipe connecting inside of main retort with inside of retort 6. 17, containing vessel connected to the lower part of retort 6; 20, pipe connecting the interior of the. retort 6 with a condenser. 21, is condenser co nected to the retort 6 by the pipe 20. 22, is a water inlet for supplying water to the condenser; 23, is a water outlet therefor; 24, a receiving vessel for the products of condensation; 25, a valve between the condenser and the receiving vessel; 26, a pipe for the release of permanent gases; 27, a valve connected with said pipe; 03, is a separately excited dynamo; 29, rheostat therefor; 30, ammevoltmeter; 32, positive wire from dynamo connecting with the anodes 11 and 11' in multiple; 33, negative-wire connecting the dynamo directly to the metallic surface .of the condenser, 21.

Referring now to sheet 2 of the drawings,'-I will describe the modified form disclosed in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. 1. is the retort or still and 12 a feed pipe for the same; 13 a valve in the feed pipe; 2', furnace; 3" flue of furnace; 4" outlet of flue; 5 outlet for residues from retort; 6", valve on electrode 11" same; 7" centering pins; 8", screw cap on the upper end of retort; 9", pipe leading to condenser (condenser not shown); 10", valve on said pipe; 11", tubular electrode surrounded by retort; 12", tubular electrode plugged at either end and surrounded by the walls of the retort on the outer surface of the electrode 11". The central electrode 12" is kept out of contact with the inner surface of the electrode 11" by means of insulating separator so placed as not to interfere with the passage of the vapors between the two electrodes.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2 on the dotted lines 33; 1, being the retort; 3 the flue; 7 centering pins; 11 outer electrode; 12", inner tubular electrode, plugged at either end and'surrounde'd by electrode 11 and insulated from the same; 12", an insulator, separating electrodes 11 and 12"; 15", rings of insulating material between the outer electrode and the inner walls of the retort.

Referring now to Fig. 4 which illustrates a modification of the electrodes, 11 and 12 and consists of a tube split lengthwise, each half being insulated from the other which allows of each electrode having an equal amount of surface 11" is one electrode and 12", the other and 12, the insulating material separating the two from each other.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I will describe the mode of operation of that form of the invention. The retort should be charged with material occupying a space between the bottom thereof andthe lower part of electrode 11, as shown. After the different valves have been closed, heat is introduced to the jackets, 4 and 4, from the heating coil, 2; the blower, 6, having been started. Valve 12 on jacket 4. should be left open until the desired temperature is obtained, after which it is partly closed so that just enough air escapes to allow a proper circulation through the jackets. After the vapor begins to form, the electric current is turned on and I the voltage thereof'gradually increased until the amperage reaches the degree most suitable for the material being treated. The path of the heating current of heated air is as follows, through coiled pipe 2 in furnace 3, through jacket 4 to pipe 15 into jacket 4' and out, or if desired, back to the blower, b, by valve 12.

This generates the hydrocarbon vapors in the retort 6, and they pass out by pipe 16 into retort 6, passing thence out of said retort and by pipe 20, to the condenser, 21;

and insulated from the same; 13 and 14", wires attached to the electrodes ultimately passing in liquid form out at the bottom thereof through valve 25 to receiving vessel 24, the permanent gases passing off through pipe 26 and valve 27 which is left open. The flow of the electric current from the dynamo d is as follows; passing directly through the ammeter 30, wire 32, in multiple through the anodes 11 and 11; through the vapors to the walls 6 and 6 and back to the negative terminal of the dynamo by way of pipe 20, condenser 21 and wire 33.

After the apparatus is heated to the desired degree, the feeding of further material can be.arranged or adjusted without lessening the pressure by opening valve 13, valve 14, being closed and letting a'definite quantity thereof pass into the retort 01 valve 13 may be adjusted so as to allow of a regular continuous feeding taking place. When the vessel 12 is being filled, valve 13 is closed and valve 14 is open. The vessel 17, beneath the retort 6, is, for convenience in tapping the contents, located at a point midway between the source of generation and the entrance to the condenser. The volt meter 31, is bridged across wires 32 and 33.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig.

2, the retort itself is located in the furnaceand flue so that greater heat is generated and the operation of the apparatus is as follows: the material being fed into said retort by the pipe 1'-2, through the valve, 1-3 for controlling the feed, the heat passing upward from the furnace and around the retort in the flue 3" subjects the oil to suflicient heat to vaporize it and these vapors pass upward between the outslde of the electrode 12" and the inside of elec-- trode 11" from whence it passes outward to the condenser not shown but by way of the pipe 9" and valve 10 and ultimately to a chamber for receiving the completed product,the electrical action from the electrodes 11" and 12 being the same as in Fig. 1. 7

Although I have described two modified forms of apparatus for practising the novel method hereinbefore described of electrically treating the vapors of hydrocarbon oils'in such manner as to produce valuable hydrocarbon vapors, such for instance as gasolene, I do not limit myself to these ed vapors of crude oils which consists in causing an electrical current to be passed through said vapors while the same are in compressed and heated condition.

2. The method of increasing the amount of gasolene obtained from the distillation of crude oil consisting in passing a disruptive current of electricity through the heated vapor thereof while the process of distillation is being effected.

3. The method of changing the molecular condition of the vapor of crude oil so as to increase the output of gasolene, consisting in subjecting the oil to heat and pressure sufficient to vaporize it and simultaneously passing a current of electricity through the vapor, thus produced; and finally condensing the vapor thereby producing an elec-" trolyzed liquid.

4. Apparatus crude oils embracing means for heating the same; means for vaporizing'the heated oils in compressed form; means for condensing said vapors, together with a source of electricity so arranged with relation tothe foregoing means as to produce an electric for producing the vapors of v current passing through the volume of said vapors while in a heated condition.

5. An apparatus for producing gasolene, embracing a source of heat; one or more retorts for vaporizing crude oil; a condenser for reducing the vaporized oil to liquid form and a generator of electricity connected in circuit with the interior of the retort or retorts in such manner as to subject the entire volume of the heated gases to the electrical influence of the current generated.

6. An apparatus for producing gasolene embracing a source of heat, as a furnace; a retort and means for supplying crude oil thereto; a condenser connected with the retort; a generator of electricity connected in circuit with the interior of the retort, the electrodes of said retort being of relatively large surface area and located one withln the other and adapted to electrolyze the gases produced by vaporization, together with a receiving vessel adapted to store the completed product after it has passed through the coil of the condenser.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HART ROBERTSON.

4 Witnesses:

DAVID JANKOWER, BARTON B. WARD. 

